STUDY THE
BIBLE 9 (STB 9)
“THE PENTATEUCH”
The first five books
The
Pentateuch
is the first five books of the Bible (penta=five; teuchos=book)
which
are written by Moses, and called the Books of Moses.
It
covers
approximately the first 2,600 years of history of the world,
from the creation
around 4,000 BC, and ending with Israel’s entry of into their promised
|
Genesis |
The word “GENESIS”
means ‘origin’, ‘beginning’ or ‘creation’ Contents: Creation,
beginning of the world, Man, Noah’s flood, Hebrew nation, Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. In fact, the first seven
chapters of Genesis only account for approximately 1,660
years to Noah’s flood in 2340 BC. This is how
much God thinks of the history of the world before the flood – just a
few pages! |
|
Exodus |
The word “EXODUS”
means “a going out from or a departing”
In Egypt for
70 years prosperity to start with, and followed by 144 years of brutal
slavery, Contents: The going out
of Egypt, The Ten Commandments, Other laws, The desert Tabernacle |
|
Leviticus |
The word “LEVITICUS”
means “having to do or belonging to the Levites” Contents: The Law first
given at Mt Sinai shows how to worship God, The various
sacrifices, The priesthood of Levites, The Holy seasons & feasts,
Various laws |
|
Numbers |
The word “NUMBERS”
means it is a book about the details and specific numbers
in each tribe, before their journey starts and before they
enter Canaan, plus the events, places, feasts, offerings, setting up
camp, trials and instructions and so on. This book is so named because
of the two population surveys (census). The first in chapter 1 and the
second just before entering Canaan in chapter 26. Contents: The forty
years in the wilderness and desert, More laws are added, Israel’s
journey to the promised land of Canaan. |
|
Deuteronomy |
The word “DEUTERONOMY”
means a “repetition of the law” or “the second time giving of
the law” with “deuteron - as second” and “- onomy being the law”. Final warnings
& instructions before entering Canaan. It is the 2nd
repeating of the Law on how to serve God Contents: Moses’
farewell addresses, The recounting of history, Rehearsal of the
principal laws, Solemn warnings |
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GENESIS (1st book) A VERY BRIEF TIMELINE from CREATION to the EXODUS of 2,550 years |
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4,000 BC approx. (actual 3996 BC) |
1660 years |
Chapter 1: CREATION: A 6 day creation of 24 hours each
day. Chapter 2: God creates Adam and places him in the garden of Eden
along with Eve. Chapter 3: Adam and
Eve sin and are cast out of the garden. Chapter 4: Adam has two sons, among others, and Cain kills Abel.
God marks Cain (v15) as a sign of lifelong contempt, and that no-one
should kill him. Chapter 5: Lists the generations from Adam to Noah. Adam lived for
930 years, Seth 912 years, Enos 905 years, Cainen 910 years, Mahalaleel
895 years, Jared 962 years, Enoch 365 years, Methuselah 969 years,
Lamech 777 years, Noah 950 years. Today, people rarely get to 80+ years
because of the accumulation of sin and sins over 6,000 years, that have
weakened everyone’s body. Chapter 6: Pre-flood wickedness in the world. The sons of God
being spirit beings came to earth and had sex with the physical
daughters of men. See 2Peter 2:4 and Jude 6. The offspring were giants
who had incredible and supernatural power. Their superior intelligence
and extraordinary power helped the Egyptians lift the huge stones used
in building the pyramids. |
|
2340 BC |
340 years |
Chapter 7-8: NOAH’S FLOOD: God
floods the whole world over the highest mountains. Eight people – Noah
and wife, his three sons and wives, and the animals, were in the ark
for 177 days. Chapter 9-10: Noah and sons replenish the earth. When Noah is drunk,
Ham, his son, has sex with Noah and his mother, and so Ham is cursed as
God shall enlarge
Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan
shall be his servant. (Genesis
9:27) Noah’s prophecy and curse still exists today. The descendants
of Ham (Africa) are to be servants in the world;
Shemites (the Jews) to preserve the true knowledge of God; the Japhetic
races to have the largest portion of the world and to replace the
Semitic races as the teachers of God. |
|
2000 BC |
50 years |
Chapter 9: It is around this time in 2,000BC, that in the days of
Peleg, God divides the earth’s one great land mass into continents (Gen
10:25) as we have today like Africa, Australia, Europe and North
America and so on. Chapter 10: Noah had three sons – Ham goes South to Africa, Japheth
goes North and settles in Europe, and Shem are the Jews and the Arabs
today. Nimrod, who marries his mother Semiramis, is the founder of
Babylon and Ninevah. Other languages can sound like ‘babble’ (Babel). Chapter 11: The TOWER OF BABEL (in Babylon) is started but
God scatters everyone with different languages into different
continents, because with one
language nothing,
will be restrained from them which they have imagined to do (Gen
11:6-8). The world is returning to one language today – English! |
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1951 BC |
100 years |
Chapter 12: ABRAHAM IS BORN. In 1876 BC, when 75 years old and living in Ur in
Babylon, God tells him to go to Haran and he will make of him a great
nation (the Jews) and all the nations of the earth will be blessed as
well (Gen 12:1-4). Chapter 13: Abraham and Lot separate Chapter 14: Abraham defeats the Babylonian kings. Chapter 15 God’s promises to Abraham renewed. Abraham is 99 years old
Chapter 16: Hagar cast out; Ishmael born Chapter 17: Abraham circumcised; Ishmael 13 years old
Chapter 18 God threatens to destroy Sodom Chapter19: Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed; Lot’s daughters with Lot
have Moab and Ammon as sons Chapter 20: Abraham lies to Abimelech about Sarah |
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1851 BC |
75 years |
Chapter 21 ISAAC BORN. Abraham is 100 and Sarah 90 years old. Chapter 22: Abraham offers to sacrifice Isaac Chapter 23: Sarah’s death Chapter 24: Isaac marries Rebekah |
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1791 BC |
128 Years |
Chapter
25: JACOB and ESAU BORN; Esau
sells birthright to Jacob Chapter
26: Famine,
so Isaac goes to Philistines & Abimelech and prospers; Chapter
27:
Jacob deceives Isaac his father Chapter
28:
Jacob’s vision at Bethel of God’s promise of success Chapter
29-31: Jacob
works for Laban for 20 years (31:41) and has 13 children of 12 boys (to
be the tribes of Israel) and Dinah, of two wives of Leah and Rachel and
maid servants Zilpah and Bilhah Chapter
32: Jacob
wrestles with angel and has name change to Israel Chapter
33: Reconciliation
between Jacob and Esau Chapter
34:
Shechem molests Dinah; Simeon and Levi retaliate & kill the Hivites
Chapter 35: God renews the covenant at Bethel with Jacob
Chapter
36: The
generations of Esau 1663BC
Famine begins Chapter
37: Joseph
sold into Egypt when 17 years old. Chapter
38: Judah
molests Tamar his daughter in law Chapter
39: Joseph
prospers in Egypt; Joseph thrown in prison falsely accused Chapter
40: Meets
the butler and baker in prison Chapter
41: Pharaoh’s
two dreams of seven thin cattle eating seven fat cattle, and seven full
ears of grain eating seven thin ears; Joseph put 2nd in
charge in Egypt Chapter
42-44: Joseph’s
brother go to Egypt two years into the famine, to buy corn Chapter
45: Joseph
reveals himself to his brothers |
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1663-1656 |
7 years |
FAMINE |
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1661 BC |
71 years |
Chapter 46-47: ISRAEL (JACOB) ENTERS EGYPT: Prospers with sons
and their families Chapter 48: Jacob blesses Joseph’s two
children Manasseh and Ephraim Chapter 49: Jacob’s prophecy for
the twelve tribes Chapter 50: Death of Jacob and Joseph |
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1590 |
144yr |
SLAVERY IN EGYPT: Bitter and hard bondage |
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1446 BC |
40 years |
THE EXODUS from Egypt with all the events contained in the
books of EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, DEUTERONOMY with all five
books written by Moses |
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EXODUS (2nd
book) The word “EXODUS” means “a going out from or a
departing” and begins the story of Moses himself, as he
leads Israel out of slavery in Egypt, and with his own life and work
being the subject matter of Exodus, Number, Leviticus and Deuteronomy.
The story of Moses makes up about one-seventh of the whole Bible, and
is about two-thirds as large as the New Testament. It outlines Israel’s time of 215 years in Egypt (not 400 years as commonly thought, as this figure is the
total time he left Ur to the exodus from Egypt) with 71 years of
prosperity followed by 144 years of brutal slavery (as “…there
arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.” Ex 1:8),
the going out of Egypt (the exodus); the Ten Commandments given at Mt
Sinai in Arabia (not the Sinai Peninsula); other laws were added as
they travelled over the years; the Tabernacle (tent) in the desert.
There are three main parts: 1. ISRAEL IN EGYPT chapters 1-15 2. FROM
THE RED SEA TO MT SINAI chapters 16-18 3. Israel at Mt Sinai chapters
19-40 |
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1. ISRAEL IN EGYPT chapters 1-15 Chapter 1:
Israel
makes bricks under the whip; decree to kill Jewish babies Chapter 2:
Baby Moses
in a basket on the water; grows up, kills an Egyptian and flees Chapter 3:
Moses and
the burning bush Chapter 4:
Moses’ rod
turns into a snake; hand turns leprous; gets circumcised Chapter 5:
Faces
Pharaoh who won’t let Israel go Chapter 6:
God renews
covenant with Moses Chapter 7:
Moses
defeats Pharaoh’s magicians; plague #1 river water to blood Chapter 8:
Plagues #2 frogs
#3 lice #4 flies Chapter 9:
#5 cattle
disease #6 boil #7 hail Chapter
10: #8 locusts
#9 darkness Chapter 11: #10 kills
first-born children of the Egyptians Chapter
12: Passover
and blood on door-posts Chapter
13: Unleavened
bread; start of journey C Chapter
14: Come to
the Red Sea at the bottom of the Sinai Peninsula and Moses calls on God
to cross the Gulf of Aqaba not the Gulf of Suez. They would cross
into Arabia where Mt Sinai is situated. The Egyptian army drowned Chapter
15: Victory
song of Moses 2. FROM THE RED SEA TO MT SINAI chapters 16-18 Chapter
16: Israel
murmurs with hunger, manna sent from heaven Chapter
17: Water from
the rock; Aaron and Hur hold up Moses’ hands fighting the
Amalekites Chapter
18: Israel
come to Mt Sinai in Arabia; Moses appoints rulers to judge
civil matters 3. ISRAEL AT MT SINAI chapters 19-40 Chapter
19: Moses goes
up Mt Sinai, smoke, fire; people told not to touch the mountain Chapter
20: Moses
given the Ten Commandments from God Chapter
21-24 Other
commandments given: Laws about slavery, death for murder, kidnapping,
cursing parents, “eye for an eye”, stealing, damage to crops,
seduction, scorcery, cohabitation with animals, idolatry, kindness to
widows and orphans, lending, pledges, curse not a ruler, first fruits,
first born, false reports, mobs, justice, looking after animals,
bribes, strangers, Sabbath, Sabbatical year, Passover, Feast of
Harvest, Feast of Ingathering, baby goats not to be boiled in mother’s
milk, no covenants with Canaanites, rewards for obedience. Chapter
25-31: Directions,
instructions and measurements for the Tabernacle (tent). Chapter
32-33: Moses goes
up mountain, golden calf made and destroyed, 3,000 men die Chapter 34: Moses up
the Mount again comes down with ‘second
lot’ of ten Commandments Chapter 35
-40: The
Tabernacle built |
Exodus is the record of remission of past sins,
and lays the foundation of the cleansing, worship and service
for Israel. Leviticus gives the details of the walk, worship
and service
of that people.
In Exodus, God speaks out of the Mount at
Sinai, to which any approach was forbidden.
In Leviticus, God speaks out of the Tabernacle
(tent) in which he dwells in the midst of his people. God tells them
what will
be suitable for his holiness, as they approach and have communion
with
him.
THE
OFFERINGS
chapters 1-7
Sweet
Sin
Law
of Offerings
Burnt Meat Peace
Sin Trespass
Burnt
Meat Peace Sin
Trespass
1 2
3
4
5 - 6:7
6:8 - 7
THE
OFFERINGS EXPLAINED:
The
offerer to lay on hands to identify with animal Lev 1:4
1.
BURNT offerings
– for what we should have done -
PERFECT OBEDIENCE.
Voluntary.
Complete consecration of offerer to God Rom 12:1. It was burned.
Jesus
Christ:
Eph 5:2; Heb 9:14 ‘whole’ ;Deut 33:10.
2.
MEAT offerings – for what we should have been –
PERFECT
IN CHARACTER.
Consecration
of the offerer’s work and possessions.
No
leaven, honey or frankincense but salt and oil used. It was burned.
Jesus
Christ:
corn of wheat Jn 12:24 – bruised/crushed/baked; The bread
of Life. Jn 19:28.
3.
PEACE offerings – for what we should have enjoyed – PERFECT
PEACE WITH
GOD.
Reconciliation
of the offerer to God.
Wave
and heave. Offerer eats remainder Deut 12:7. It was burned.
Jesus
Christ:
Rom 5:1; Col 1:20.
4.
SIN offerings – for what we were - SINFUL AND GUILTY.
Atonement
of offerer’s sin. It was burned.
Jesus
Cnrist:
2Cor 5:21; 1Pet 2:24.
5.
TRESPASS offerings – for what we have done
– SINNED
AND TRESPASSED.
No
oil/frankincense. Restitution (paying back) for offerer’s trespass. It
was burned.
Jesus
Christ:
Col 2:13-14; 2Cor 5:19.
THE
PRIESTHOOD
chapters 8-10
Consecration Work
Punishment
8
9
10
LAWS
OF PURITY
(for people) chapter 11-15
THE
LAWS OF HOLINESS
chapters 17-22
People 17-20
Priests
21-22:16 Offerings
22:17-33
17
Sacrifice place and blood
21 Dead;
Baldness; Marriage; Deformity no blemishes
18 Incest and lying with animals 22
Uncleanness; Eat holy things
19-20 Daily
walk
THE FEASTS chapter 23
Sabbath
and the 7 Feasts
Passover,
Unleavened bread, First fruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Day of Atonement,
Tabernacles
THE CIVIL
LAWS
chapters
24-27
Oil
and shewbread (24:1-9); Blasphemy and Killing (24:10-23);
Sabbatical
(25:1-7); Jubilee (25:8-24); Inheritance (25:25-34); Poor brother
(25:35-55);
Blessings
& Cursings (26:1-15); Law of the Vow & Dedicated things
(27:1-34)
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NUMBERS (4th
book) The word “NUMBERS” means it is a book about the details
and specific numbers in each tribe, before their journey
starts and before they enter Canaan, plus the events, places, feasts,
offerings, setting up camp, trials and instructions and so on. This
book is so named because of the two population surveys (census). The
first in chapter 1 and the second just before entering Canaan in
chapter 26. It outlines the forty years in the wilderness and desert;
more laws are added; Israel’s journey to the promised land of Canaan. The forty years in the
wilderness; Israel’s journey into the promised land The book
of Numbers is so named because of the two population census, with the 1st
in chapter 1 and the 2nd in
chapter 26 The book of numbers is absolutely profound in meaning.
“Go forward into the Promised Land (Canaan) or you will die and go to
hell.” Those over 20 years of age were turned back and killed by God
for refusal to enter into Canaan. This Old Testament book is the equivalent of the book
of Hebrews in the New Testament, where Paul urges the Messiah
believing Jews to the salvation which can only be found in Christ. If
not, For it
is impossible for those who were once enlightened… If they shall
fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they
crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open
shame. Hebrews
6:4-6 But without
faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God
must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6 But we are
not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe
to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 10:39 In the
book of Numbers, they are urged to go into their earthly
salvation in the Promised Land. In the
book of Hebrews, they are urged to enter their heavenly
salvation to be found in Christ. The book
of Numbers takes up the story where Exodus left it, and is a book of
their wilderness wanderings that takes place after their failure to
enter Canaan at Kadesh-barnea the 1st time. In Numbers, nothing is left to self-will. Every servant was numbered, knew his place in the family and has his own definitely assigned service. The final outcome is that Israel, tested by their wilderness wanderings, was an utter failure, as outlined in the Book of Deuteronomy |
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1. DEPARTURE from Egypt 1styear, 1st
month,15th day (360 days in the year
with 30 days in the month)
Red Sea crossing At Marah:
with the bitter waters, Elim, Wilderness of Sin People murmur Quails
and Manna
2nd
month, 15th day At
Rephidim: water
from the Rock Battle
with Amalek, Jethro (Moses father-in-law) At Mt
Sinai: Ten
Commandments, covenant 3rd
month
Book of laws; Moses 40 days up Mt Sinai
Golden calf; Moses second lot of 40 days up Mt Sinai
Tabernacle (tent) built; Census (population count) 2nd
year, 2nd
month, 1st day
Go forward from Mt Sinai 2nd
year, 2nd
month, 20th day
Had been at Mt Sinai about a year At
Taberah: Fire,
Quails, Plague At
Hazeroth: Sedition
(rebellion) of Miriam and Aaron At
Kadesh-barnea (1st time): Spies are
sent; People are afraid & rebel; Moses intercedes;
People defeated; More laws; Korah; 14,700 die; Aaron’s rod 2. 38 MORE YEARS wandering
in the surrounding wilderness This gap
of 38 years occurs between the 19th and 20th
chapters of Numbers. This time starts at Kadesh for the 1st
time, when the spies bring back reports of giants (13:26) and they
refuse to go to Canaan. God lets them wander for 38 years. Their
final departure for Canaan, after 38 years, starts from Kadesh again,
for the 2nd time. At
Kadesh-barnea (2nd time): 40th
year, 1st
month
Miriam’s
death, Water from the Rock; Moses’ sin of not speaking to the Rock but
striking twice
Final start for Canaan
Edom refuses passage At Mt Hor: Aaron’s
death 5th month
Israel defeats the Canaanites
Go South from Mt Hor: Serpents
East and North around Edom
Then North along the East border of Moab
Conquer Amorites: Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan
Camp on plains of Moab
Balak and Balaam; Sin of Peor; 24,000 slain; Census
Destruction of Midianites
Two & a half tribes settle East of Jordan
Moses’ farewell; Moses’ death 40th
year, 11th
month, 1st day They cross the Jordan 41st
year, 1st
month, 10th day
Keep the Passover; Manna ceases
41st
year, 1st
month, 14th
day |
Chapter
1: The Census: The
first of two census
(numbering of the people). Taken at Mt Sinai showed 603,550 males above
the age
of 20 (Num 1:45-46. Levites were not to be numbered (Num 1:47). The
second
census, 38 years later, showed 601,730. (see chapter 36)
Chapter
2-4: Organisation of the camp Every
detail was assigned (given) with military precision. This was necessary
in
handling so vast a multitude. The arrangement of the tribes was
WEST
NORTH
EAST
Dan
Asher
Naphtali
62,700
41,500
53,400
Benjamin
Judah
35,400 6,200
74,600
MERARITES
Manasseh
GERSHONITES THE
TABERNACLE MOSES
Issachar
32,200
7,500
KOHATHITES AARON 54,400
8,600
Ephraim
Zebulon
40,500
57,400
GAD
SIMEON
REUBEN
45,650
59,300
46,500
SOUTH
When
they broke camp, Judah and the Eastern Tribes led
the
march.
In
the centre, was the Tabernacle with the Southern and Western
Tribes front and rear.
The
Northern
Tribes brought up the rear.
Chapter
5-6: A group of laws: About
lepers; Restitution (paying what
is owed for damages); Women suspected of adultery; Vows; Benediction
(prayer at
the end)
Chapter
7-9: Preparation for the journey: Offerings
of the Princes;
Dedication of the Tabernacle (tent); Levites consecrated; Passover
observed;
Cloud (Num 9:15-25)
Chapter
10-11: They set forward to the Promised Land: They
were at Mt Sinai for one year. The cloud lifted. The silver trumpets
sounded.
Judah led the march. And they were on their way. Within three days, at
Taberah,
they began murmuring. That was their speciality. They knew how to
complain. God
sent them quails, but smote them with a plague (See Exodus 16).
Chapter
12: Sedition of Miriam and Aaron: Miriam
given leprosy. Moses
went to the Lord (v3).
Chapter
13-14: The twelve spies sent to Canann. Moses
had planned to go
directly from Mt Sinai to Canaan. He went straight to Kadesh (at
the top
of the Gulf of Aqaba) which was 150 miles North of Mt Sinai, intending
to enter
Canaan straight away. But the spies brought a very discouraging report.
The
people refused to go on, and would have stoned Moses if God had not
miraculously intervened.
WITHIN THE SIGHT OF THE
PROMISED LAND,
THEY TURNED BACK.
FOR THEM THE OPPORTUNITY NEVER
RETURNED.
JOSHUA AND CALEB AND THE
TWO SPIES
THAT WANTED TO GO FORWARD, WERE THE ONLY ONES OF THE 600,000 MEN OVER
THE AGE
OF 20, WHO LIVED TO ENTER CANAAN.
Chapter
15-19: Various laws; Korah goes to hell. Korah,
jealous of
Moses, sought to usurp his leadership. Moses went straight to God, and
God
settled the matter in no time. The earth opened up, and the rebels went
down to
hell.
There
is a gap of 38 years between the 19th and 20th
chapters
of Numbers.
This time covers their first arrival at Kadesh
(13:26) and
their
final departure, in the 40th year, from Kadesh for Canaan.
Chapter
20: In
the 33rd chapter, there is a list of where they camped. 40
in all
and 18 of them were between Rithmah and Kadesh. These encampments are
at places
that can’t be identified today. They went back, forward and round about
for 38
years. And this is how it is today for unsaved people – their lives are
just
wasted. Furthermore, the same can be said for saved people. You can
just keep
going around in circles. Moses’ sin was his failure to obey God. He
struck the
Rock twice instead of once (10:12). Miriam, aged 130, dies at Kadesh
(v1),
Aaron, aged 123, at Mt Hor (v28) and Moses, aged 120, at Mt Nebo (Deut
34:1,5).
Chapter
21: From Kadesh to Jordan: They
go up the East side of the Dead Sea
but the Edomites refuse them permission. (They must labour to get into
the
Promised Land just like Paul says in his Epistle to the Hebrews. Let
us labour therefore to enter into that rest,
lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Hebrews 4:11.)
Then Moses turns South down the Araba, the
desolate valley extending from the Dead Sea to the Red Sea, “a great
and
terrible wilderness”, for the long, circuitous (circular and round
about) and
hazardous route around Edom and Moab, and then North, along the borders
of
Arabia, as far as Bashan, which is East of the Sea of Galilee. Then
South-West
to the plains of Moab, which is opposite Jericho. God commands Moses
not to
molest the Edomites (Esau), Moabites or Ammonites (the two daughters of
Lot),
even though they tried to stop Israel.
The
Fiery Serpent (v 6-9) is an actual event and a
picture to come of the gospel. As those who were bitten by poisonous
serpents
looked to the Brazen Serpent, and were healed; so, if we, who have been
wounded
by sin, look to Jesus, we shall live (John 3:14). The Israelites
afterward made
an idol of the Brazen Serpent, called it Nehushtan, and burned incense
to it,
till 700 years later, Hezekiah destroyed it (2Kings 18:4)
Conquest
of Gilead and Bashan (v21-35). The land to
the East of Jordan was now Israel’s.
Chapter
22-25: Balak and Balaam: Balaam’s
prophecies (24:17) were a
remarkable prediction of Israel’s place in history, through a “Star”
to
arise out of Jacob (24:17). Though God used him to utter correct
prophecy, yet
Balaam, for money, initiated (started) and condoned Israel’s shameful
sin with
the Moabite and Midianite women, for which Balaam was slain, and 24,000
died
(31:8, 16). Balaam is mentioned in the New Testament (2Peter 2:15; Jude
11;
Revelation 2:14).
Chapter
26: The 2nd Census:
Chapter
27: Brotherless daughters and their inheritance
Chapter
28-29: Feasts and offerings
Chapter
30: Vows
Chapter
31: Slaughter of the Midianites
Chapter
32: Two and a half tribes settle East of Jordan (Reuben,
Gad, half of Manasseh)
Chapter
33: Summary diary of the their travel over 40 years
Chapter
34: Directions for the division of land
(see Joshua 13)
Chapter
35: The Levitical cities (see
Joshua 21)
Chapter
36: Brotherless daughters and their inheritance
*****
***** *****
DEUTERONOMY
(5TH BOOK)
Deuteronomy
is called The Second Law with “deutero- meaning two” and
“-onomy meaning
law”. Because of their disobedience at the end of their second year out
of
Egypt, God let Israel wander in the desert for another 38 years, till
all those
men over the age of 20, died, except for Joshua and Caleb. So there is brand
new generation, now aged 60 years, that would not remember much
about the
law when it was given the first time in the books of Leviticus, Exodus
and
Numbers, with the Ten Commandments being given at Mt Sinai and further
laws added
during their wanderings. They are given the Law a 2nd
time.
In Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, laws have been given
at various intervals. Now their wanderings are over, and on the eve of
their
entrance into Canaan, these laws are rehearsed and explained, in
anticipation
of, and with applications to, their new life in their promised land.
This book
covers a period of five weeks from the beginning of Moses speaking on
the 1st
day of the 11th month of the 40th year to 1st
day of the 12th month of the same year. Moses dies aged 120
years.
There
is a similarity between Paul the apostle and Moses. As Paul
writes to
the Christian churches with commandments of the Lord
(1Corinthians
14:37) outlining their conduct in their promised land, being in Jesus
Christ,
so Moses instructs Israel with the commandments from God as to their
conduct in
Canaan, their physical promised land.
The
Book of Deuteronomy is different from the other first four
books, in
that there is a revealing of the ‘spiritual’ nature of the Law. Christians, knowing the glory that came
with the Prophet (Deut 18:15,18), Jesus Christ, can
gain great
benefit from Deuteronomy, by comparing and contrasting with the
writings of
Paul. Many of these Deuteronomistic laws given over 2,400 years ago,
will
surely strengthen, and lend substance to, Paul’s doctrine, considering
the dark
world in which we now live.
The
key phrase of “Thou shalt” underline a stern and serious God
who tells
Israel they are a stiffnecked and rebellious people (Deut 31:27), with
the key
verse “Behold,
I
set before you this day a blessing and a curse;” Deuteronomy 11:26
There
are seven sections:
1. Summary
of the history of Israel in
the wilderness (chapters 1-3)
2. A
restating the Ten Commandments with
warnings and exhortations (chapter 4-11)
3. Instructions,
warnings
and predictions (chapters 12-27)
4. Prophecies
concerning Israel and 2nd coming of the Lord (chapters 28-30)
5. Last
instructions
to
the priests, Levites and Joshua (chapter 31)
6. The
song of Moses and his parting
blessings to each of the tribes (chapters 32-33)
7. The
death of Moses (chapter 34)
Moses, representing the law and having been given it at Mt Sinai, was never going to be allowed into the promised land of Canaan by God. Why? You can’t enter salvation by the works of the law!!! And this applies today. God says to them they will enter Canaan, not because of their goodness, but because of God’s mercy. God also tells them that they will utterly corrupt themselves once they have entered as well. Just like Christians today, that is, the closer you get to God, the more corrupt you find that you are!
1. Summary of
the history of Israel in the wilderness (chapters 1-3)
Moses
gives a brief summary of what has taken place, from their leaving of Mt
Horeb (Mt Sinai) to their coming to Kadesh a 2nd time
Their
travels from Kadesh till they come to the country of the Amorites, with
the defeat of Sihon their king
The war
with Og, the king of Bashan, with the dividing of his land, and that of
Sihon, among the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh.
2. Restate
the 10 Commandments with warnings and exhortations (chap 4-11)
Moses
exhorts them to obey God’s laws, and threatens those that would break
them. He appoints three cities of refuge – Bezer, Ramoth, Golan
Repeats
the Ten Commandments and what effect it had on the people who heard them
Urges them
to love God with all their heart and promises them good things
Repeats
the command to wipe out the Canaanites and their idolatry
Reminds
them of God’s kindness to them in their 40 years of travel, to remember
his mercies and not forfeit his future favours by being ungrateful and
disobedient
Tells them
they’ll pass over the Jordan River soon, but that God will do this not
because of their goodness but because of his mercy.
Tells
about the 2nd giving of the Ten Commandments, the choosing
of the Levites, and the necessity of having a circumcised heart
Tells of
God’s mighty acts, and the blessings at Mt Gerizim and curses at Mt
Ebal that would come by obeying or disobeying
3. Instructions,
warnings and predictions (chapters 12-27)
Destroy
all idols in the land, & have different offerings and sacrifices,
& avoid eating blood
Actions to
take against false prophets and idolatrous cities
Forbids
cutting themselves at funerals, restates the law about clean and
unclean animals, and to remember the Levites
Every 7th
year the poor to be released, of deceitful money practices (usury), the
first born
Annual
feasts of Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles; establish judges and
officers; no groves near the altar of God
Death to
idolators, hard cases to superior officers, the king and his duties
All
divination to be outlawed; promise of The Prophet (18:18); how to
detect false prophets
Laws
regarding the cities of refuge; treatment of an intentional murderer.
The laws
of war; who should stay home from the army; treatment of Canaanites,
how to commence sieges
Ceremony
for uncertain murders; marriages with captives; rights of the first-born
Lost,
stray animals and property rights; men and women not to dress in each
other clothes; no improper mixtures; tokens of virginity; adulterers –
men and women to put to death
Eunuchs,
bastards, Moabites, Ammonites not to enter the congregation of the
Lord; harlots not tolerated
Divorce;
newly married men; pledges, wages and gleanings
No more
than 40 stripes be given; brother to take a dead brother’s wife if
childless; weights and measures
First
fruit offerings; tithes,; self-consecration to God
The words
of the law to be written on stones and set up on Mt Ebal. The tribes
would stand on Mt Gerizim to bless the obedient, and those on Mt Ebal
would curse the disobedient
4. Prophecies
concerning Israel and 2nd coming of the Lord (chap 28-30)
The
blessings of those who are faithful, and curses against the disobedient
A recital
of the covenant of God
Promises
of pardon for those who were repentant; good and evil, and life and
death set before them
5. Last
instructions to the priests, Levites and Joshua (chap 31)
Moses now
120 yeas old, delivers a copy of the law which he had written into the
hands of the priests to be put into the small container called the Ark
of the Covenant (not Noah’s ark) and to be read in public every 7 years
6. Song of
Moses & his parting blessings to each of the tribes (chap 32-33)
The
prophetic and historical song of Moses; and he is commanded to go up Mt
Nebo to view the promised land.
The
prophetical blessings of the 12 tribes; and the happiness of Israel
7. The death
of Moses (chapter 34)
Moses view the promised land from the top of Mt Nebo, dies, and is privately buried by the Lord. Israel mourn him for 30 days. Joshua takes command of the people.
Harley
Hitchcock
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